How We Did It: Lobster Island

Go behind-the-scenes of a documentary photography project, and learn how to create your own!

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Documentary Photography Tips

Shooting a Documentary Project Can Make You a Better Photographer, No Matter What Level You’re At or What Type of Work You Do!

Now, you may be thinking that this sounds neat, but you don’t plan to shoot a documentary photography project, so why bother going behind the scenes and learning more about it?

Well, I can tell you right now, that no matter what type of photography you do, or what level you’re at, shooting a documentary photography project can help you become a better photographer, and help your business stand out in the crowded marketplace.

Documentary photography is about capturing a part of life that you find interesting, and sharing that story with the world. So take a second a think about a topic that you find fascinating – something you’d love to learn more about, or see firsthand. You can take that passion and turn it into a documentary project!

Great images happen when the photographer is genuinely interested in the subject. When you’re shooting your project, you’ll find that you approach your work with new levels of creativity. You see things in a new way, and notice the little details that bring new depth to your photos. It’s because you’re fascinated with what you’re shooting.

And then you’ll share your project, and in doing so, show that you are a unique and interesting photographer who is passionate about their work. Clients want to hire someone who loves what they do. That kind of energy is contagious, and people want to be around it! Shooting a documentary project will help you stand out, and become more memorable.

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Learn From Our Mistakes

Skip the Trial and Error Stage, and Learn From Our Mistakes!

There’s a lot of talk out there about the importance of doing personal work, but not a lot of practical advice on how to actually make it happen. It’s hard to find the time to do a big project, and figuring out the logistics can be overwhelming.

That’s why we’ve written this eBook. We had wanted to shoot a documentary project for years, but we didn’t know where to start, so we kept putting it off. Finally, after dreaming about it for long enough, we decided to jump in and just do it already. No more waiting. You have to make your own opportunities happen!

In the spring of 2013 we traveled to Prince Edward Island, a small province on the east coast of Canada. There we documented lobster culture, from catching it to eating it, and published the results as a project called Lobster Island.

But we didn’t have a guide. We had to learn everything by trial and error, and trust me, there were some errors along the way! But the important thing is that we did it. And then we wrote down everything we learned so that you can do it faster and easier. You don’t have to make the same mistakes. You don’t have to wonder “What next?”. Everything you need to know is in this eBook, beautifully presented.

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Get Tips on Planning a Documentary Project

And you know what? Shooting a documentary project can be a lot easier than you may be thinking. We spent a month shooting Lobster Island, but in this eBook we’ll show you how to plan a project that’s perfect for you. We’ll guide you through some key questions to ask yourself to find a topic that works for your interests and your situation.

Then we’ll help you think through the logistics: How to do your research, create an itinerary, choose your output, and more. These are the things that can make or break a project, and we’ll make it easy for you to ensure that you’ve covered your bases before you jump in. Even if you’ve never done something like this before, we’ve gone into enough detail to make it completely possible for you. But we’re still going to make it fun and exciting! Lobster Island was a great adventure, and in this eBook you get to come along with us!

We’ll share exactly what equipment we brought, what we couldn’t live without, and what should have stayed at home. Taking too much means you’re wasting precious energy lugging it around. Plus you’ll get tips on how to travel with your equipment, how you can save money by renting, and what made us decide to buy instead!

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What Kind of Format is this eBook in?

How We Did It: Lobster Island is a downloadable PDF file, which can be viewed on a number of devices – laptop and desktop computers, iPhone or Android devices, iPads, and other tablets.

For iPad specific users, you can download this book (or any pdf document) directly to iBooks, which will allow you to access it at any time. Click here for a very handy guide that shows you exactly how to put this book into your iBooks app.

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What if I don’t have a PayPal Account?

PayPal handles the transaction, but you don’t have to create a PayPal account in order to purchase. When you’re ready to checkout, click on “Checkout with PayPal” from your shopping cart. On the next screen, select “Don’t have a PayPal account?” and you can enter your card information there to complete the purchase like any other online transaction.

eBook PriceHow we did it: Lobster Island by Ian Plant

$25

Attila is the founder and editor-in-chief of Exposure Guide. He is an avid photographer, graphic designer, bedroom DJ and devoted Mac addict. Attila got his first DSLR camera, a Canon 10D, back in 2003 and he has been hooked on photography ever since.